Offender Profiling Top and Bottom

• What is the main idea behind offender profiling?


  Characteristics of an offender can be deduced from the characteristics of the offence and crime scene.
• What is the main aim of offender profiling?


  To narrow the field of enquiry and the list of likely suspects.
• What does compiling a profile usually involve?


  Careful scrutiny of the crime scene and analysis of evidence, including witness reports.
• What are the two main types of offender profiling?

  Top-down approach and Bottom-up approach.
• Where did the top-down approach to offender profiling originate?


  In the United States, from the FBI's work in the 1970s.
• What data did the FBI's Behavioural Science Unit use for the top-down approach?


  Data gathered from in-depth interviews with 36 sexually motivated serial killers.
• How are murderers or rapists classified in the top-down approach?


  They are classified as either organised or disorganised based on the evidence.
• What does modus operandi (MO) refer to in the context of offender profiling?


  It refers to the particular way serious offenders have of 'working'.
• What are the characteristics of organised offenders?


  • Planned the crime in advance
  • Deliberately target victims
  • Maintain high control during the crime
  • Leave little evidence behind
  • Above-average intelligence and skilled occupation
  • Often married with children
• What are the characteristics of disorganised offenders?


  • Little evidence of planning
  • Impulsive and spontaneous acts
  • Crime scene reflects lack of control
  • Lower than average IQ and often unemployed
  • History of sexual dysfunction and failed relationships
  • Tend to live alone and close to the crime scene
• What are the four main stages in the construction of an FBI profile?


  1. Crime scene analysis
  2. Evidence collection
  3. Hypothesis generation
  4. Profile construction
• How does the bottom-up approach differ from the top-down approach?


  It builds a picture of the potential criminal from facts and figures collected from previous crimes.
• What is investigative psychology?


  It is an approach fine-tuned by David Canter that is grounded in psychological theory.
• What are the key assumptions of investigative psychology?


  • Interpersonal coherence: offender behavior reflects everyday behavior.
  • Significance of time and place: crime timing and location provide clues.
  • Forensic awareness: previous police interrogation affects behavior.
• What is smallest space analysis?


  It is a statistical technique that identifies correlations across patterns of behavior.
• How does geographic profiling assist in offender profiling?


  It helps understand the spatial pattern of an offender's behavior to locate their base.
• What is Canter's circle theory?


  • Marauder: Offender's home is within the crime area.
  • Commuter: Offender travels to a familiar area to commit crimes.
• What does the 'jeopardy surface' refer to in geographic profiling?


  It helps investigators make educated guesses about where the offender is likely to strike next.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the top-down approach?


  Strengths:

  • Provides a framework for profiling.

  Weaknesses:

  • Unscientific development.
  • Small, unrepresentative sample.
  • Relies on self-report data.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the bottom-up approach?


  Strengths:

  • Data-driven and scientific.
  • Applicable to a wide range of offenses.

  Weaknesses:

  • Some crimes may be harder to profile.
• What did Canter and Goodwin (1997) find regarding offenders and their residences?


  They found that 85% of offenders lived within the circle encompassing their offenses.
• How does the classification of organised and disorganised offenders affect the accuracy of profiling?


  The distinction is too simplistic and may not accurately reflect the complexity of offender behavior.
• What did Copson (1995) find about the usefulness of offender profiling?


  He found that the advice given in profiles was useful in 83% of cases but only helped catch offenders in 3% of cases.
• What are the key components to consider when comparing the top-down and bottom-up approaches?


  • Scientific basis
  • Range of applicability
  • Complexity of offender classification
• What is the role of mental maps in geographic profiling?


  Mental maps are individuals' internal representations of the external world, unique to each person.
• What is the significance of the spatial decision-making in offender profiling?


  It provides insight into the nature of the offence and factors about the offender.
• How can the top-down approach be considered limited in its application?


  It is primarily applicable to violent crimes and does not work well for more common offenses like burglary.
• What is the importance of accurate and detailed records in offender profiling?


  They are crucial for the success of psychological profiles provided to the police.